Daily Devotion

He Is Commander Of The Army

13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?”

14 So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”

15 Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.

The people of Israel have just miraculously crossed the waters of Jordan on dry ground, which overflowed with water once again after every Israelite has crossed over to the other side, near Jericho. The people of God experienced for themselves this mighty miracle because of Joshua’s godly leadership, steering all people to obey every of God’s commands.

And now, Joshua stands near Jericho, which is going to be the first of a series of battlefields God’s people have to enter, to possess the Promised Land, Canaan. And here, Joshua has an encounter with God.

Maybe Joshua is standing there surveying the city of Jericho, trying to formulate a strategy to defeat this fortified city. Just as he lifts his eyes, the Bible tells us he sees a Man standing with a sword drawn in His hand. Joshua must have been so occupied with thoughts on the impending battles in the Promised Land that the first words that he said to this Man he sees is, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?”

Sometimes, in the battles of our life, we are interested only if something is for us or against us, and we expect God to preserve and add to us resources that are for us, and help us remove all things that are against us.

In response to Joshua’s question, the Man says, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”

The Man does not tell Joshua if He is for or against the Israelites, though that was Joshua’s question to Him. But rather, He announces Who He is coming as – Commander of the Lord’s army. He is not here to take sides of anyone, He has come to take charge and preside over the Lord’s army, for God’s glory.

I believe today, God wants to tell us that in our battles and situations, Jesus has come as the Commander of all His people and of every area of their lives. We are to move in the direction as He commands and act in the way as He commands.

As the Commander of the Lord’s army, Jesus is also the One Who commands blessings and favor in His people when they follow and obey Him.

Is Jesus the Commander over our life? Is He the One we seek and follow as we build our career, our church, our family and our relationships? God is calling His people back to His Lordship and Kingship.

In every arena of our lives, in every battle we are facing today, let us be like Joshua who responded to the Commander of the Lord’s army in Joshua 5:14, “And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”

Yes, bow down before Jesus, revere Him and worship Him, and ask what He is saying to us. Seek His Voice, ask for His direction, inquire about His counsel and revelation.

What does the Lord say to Joshua?

“Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:15)

God commands our complete devotion to Him. The family that God has given to us, the church that He has placed us in, the career, studies, finances He has provided for us, and the areas of serving He has called us to – God wants us to recognize where we are and where we stand, is holy. Yes, every area of our life is holy, set apart for the Commander of the Lord’s army.

Pause, and be still before the Lord. And, commit to surrender and devote every part of your life to Jesus, the Commander of the Lord’s army. And you will see how He uses your life for the glory of our Heavenly Father.

Join me in this prayer.

“Dear Heavenly Father, I worship You and I give every part of my life over to You. I thank You that I need not be anxious about what tactics and strategies I need to think up to overcome my struggles and battles. I need only to worship You and obey You as the Commander of my life. Help me to fix my eyes on You and place all my hope in You as I walk through the various situations in my life. Steady my heart and mind to always seek and follow Your commands and not my own ways. I thank You that as I follow after You wholeheartedly, Your glory shall manifest in my life, bringing blessing in this land and beyond. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”